Roberto Martinez is confident Everton can sneak into the top four

WE CAN SNEAK IN: Roberto Martinez thinks his Everton side can take a Champions League place if any of the top four teams slip up [GETTY]

The optimistic Toffees boss believes one of the sides in the Champions League spots will suffer a late-season collapse.

Everton are nine points off fourth-placed Manchester City - having played a game more - and 11 behind Arsenal and Liverpool but with a match in hand.

Martinez refuses to throw in the towel in the fight for a top-four place though.

He said: "I still think 71 points will give you Champions League.

"Obviously, that's trying to look into a crystal ball and trying to guess the results between the top sides - like when Man City come to Goodison and go to Anfield.

"You've got Chelsea and Man United involved in the Champions League, there are a lot of games between the top sides.

"You're looking at the teams at the bottom who are all fighting for their lives - there's nobody playing for nothing.

"The competitive edge of the whole league is going to narrow the averages. I think that could happen [that a top four side has a major slip].

"But we're looking at ourselves. Mathematically we can still get into the Champions League so that's our objective."

Martinez would only be happy to reach Europe's top competition if they hit his points target.

HUGE ACHIEVEMENT: Reaching the Champions League would be one of Martinez's greatest achievements [GETTY]

“Mathematically we can still get into the Champions League so that's our objective”

Roberto Martinez

The Spaniard does not want to go into the Champions League before they are ready and suffer defeats in the qualifiers - just like they did at the hands of Villarreal in 2005 after finishing on 61 points.

Martinez said: "Getting into the Champions League is a huge achievement but I don't want to get into a competition that we're not ready for.

"It's pointless to go into it and then lose in the qualifying stages and not get into the group stages.

"If you get 71 points it's because as a team you're very, very good in what you're doing.

"I think the last time Everton qualified it was with one of the lowest points tallies ever.

"What I'm trying to say is the moment we get into the Champions League - and we will get there - we need to be strong enough to do well.

"It's not just getting there and then getting knocked out in the qualifying game."